from deep in the heart of Johnston, Iowa...

In the fall of 1972, during my junior year of high school, I sat down at the Cable-Nelson piano in the basement of my parents' house and laboriously penned my first song, "Last Airport Home." A few days later, I wrote another, and then another -- and then another. . .

I never stopped.

Then, in January, 1976 I played a borrowed Wurlitzer electric piano at the Wakonda Country Club on Des Moines' South Side with a band called Now and Then. That was my first professional gig. On Halloween Night of that year, I got a call from the legendary Baby Lester in Omaha, beckoning me to join him on the road as a member of Baby Lester and the Buggybumpers. I followed him to Odebolt, Iowa, Independence, Missouri (twice), Fayetteville, Arkansas, Worthington, Minnesota, Albuquerque, Abilene, Atchison, Kansas, Buffalo, Wyoming, Tiffin, Ohio, Pierre, South Dakota, Indianapolis, Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Green Lake, Wisconsin, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Humboldt, Iowa and, yes, Kokomo. I'd like to say I never stopped playing.

Okay, there were a few stops and starts from time to time -- but I'm playing NOW!!

To order a copy of my CD, "Ample Waves of Gray," send a note with your mailing address to

B. John Burns

P.O. Box 30035

Johnston, IA 50131

You may also order copies of "The Creator," "Hit From Behind," "Forty Years Ago Today," "Mutants That I'll Never Understand," "Undefeated," "Ridiculously High," "Year of the Jumping Flea," "Up Here on the 19th Floor" and "High Adventure on the Road" from the same location!!

Saturday, June 4, 2016, 5 to 7 p.m., Pioneer Mill of Tiffin, 255 Riverside Drive, Tiffin,OH. John returns for one evening to a venue he played for three weeks 39 years earlier with Baby Lester and the Buggybumpers.

Sunday, October 16, 2016, 8:30 to noon, IMT Des Moines Marathon, John performs for marathon runners coming and going in front of Butler House on Grand Avenue, across from the Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA

Saturday, November 12, 2016, 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Art on the Prairie, Downtown Perry, IA. Regional Iowa artists and acoustic musicians display their work in various locations throughout downtown Perry on Saturday and Sunday. John Burns performs Saturday at 11 a.m. at Citizen Bank and at 3 p.m. at La Poste

Saturday, January 21, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. January's featured songwriter is Rob Lumbard.

Saturday, February 18, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. February's featured songwriter is Aim Terpening,

Saturday, March 18, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. March's featured songwriter is Big Joel Kinser.

Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. April's featured songwriter is Luke Fox.

Saturday, May 20, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. May's featured songwriter is Randy Kong.

Saturday, June 17, 2017, 8:30 to 11 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. June's featured songwriter is Brian Holtz.

Sunday, October 15, 2017, 8 to noon, IMT Des Moines Marathon, Des Moines, IA. For the 12th year, John plays in front of Butler House

Saturday, October 21, 2017, 8 to 10:30 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. John's guest in October is Bryan Baker

Saturday and Sunday, November 11-12, 2017, Art on the Prairie, Perry, IA. Regional artists and acoustic musicians show their work at various locations in historic downtown Perry. John performs from 1 to 2:50 p.m. at Peterson Designs.

Saturday, November 18, 2017, 8 to 10:30 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. John's guest in November is Aaron Earl Short.

Saturday, December 16, 2017, 8 to 10:30 p.m., Streetcar 209, 525 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. John trades sets on the third Saturday of each month with a featured local songwriter. John's guest in December is Andrew Fleming.

Saturday, April 14, 2018, 6 to 7 p.m., Uptown Bill's Coffee House, 730 South Dubuque, Iowa City, IA. During the weekend of April 11-13, the Iowa City Community celebrates Bill's Birthday Bash 105, in honor of Bill Sackter's 105th birthday. John joins a long parade of performers appearing during the weekend.